ECTFE surfaces modified by fluoro-oxidation and a process therefor
OwnerBernard D. Bauman, Michael S. Corkinventors
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Abstract
A process for fluoro-oxidation of the surface(s) of an ECTFE substrate, film or three-dimensional object, and the surface-modified substrate, film or object produced thereby. The process includes exposing the surface(s) to concentrations of fluorine and oxygen for a time sufficient to increase the surface energy and thereby lower the surface contact angle sufficiently to permit bonding. The surface modification allows bonding to an adhesive with the adhesive being bondable to a plastic or metal substrate.
Claims12
A process for modifying at least one surface of a fluoropolymer consisting essentially of a 1:1 alternating copolymer of ethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene, comprising:
- exposing said at least one surface of said fluoropolymer to a gaseous composition of a preselected pressure and comprising an effective concentration of molecular fluorine and an effective concentration of molecular oxygen for a preselected time sufficient to increase the surface energy of each said surface, thereby sufficiently decreasing the surface contact angle, with respect to a droplet of pure, deionized water, to allow bonding between the surface and a preselected adhesive.
A fluoropolymer film of a preselected thickness having at least one fluoro-oxidized surface, the film consisting essentially of a 1:1 alternating copolymer of ethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene, wherein at least one said fluoro-oxidized surface has a surface contact angle, with respect to a droplet of pure, deionized water, of less than about 50 degrees.
A three-dimensional object fabricated from a fluoropolymer having at least one fluoro-oxidized surface, the fluoropolymer consisting essentially of a 1:1 alternating copolymer of ethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene,-wherein at least one said surface has a surface contact angle, with respect to a droplet of pure, deionized water, of less than about 50 degrees.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.